Beyond the Relaxation Response: The Stress-Reduction Program That Has Helped Millions of Americans

I had read the first book on the relaxation response, but it just didn't "do it" for me. It taught me the basics but I already knew the basics. If you don't know the basics you really should read it first.This book was awesome. I have so deepened my meditation. He encourages you to tap into your own belief system and that made such a tremendous difference in my meditation experience.I would recommend this book to anyone wanted to learn the art of meditation.

This was the perfect read right after reading The Relaxation Response. Dr. Benson put so much research in to this whole meditation thing and it's just so powerful and healing for the body and mind when we meditate. I'm so glad I read this book.

I had read the Relaxation Response book many years ago and recently purchased this 180 page paperback book at a bargain price (Beyond the relaxation response: The stress reduction program by Herbert Benson, M.D. with William Proctor) on Amazon.This book explores further the subject of the “relaxation response” in combination with the faith factor. This program is focused on how to use the “relaxation response” along with using a religious or spiritual mantra to help reduce stress. It is a known fact that controlling your stress may help to relieve headaches, lower blood pressure, eliminate insomnia, decrease anxiety, and relieve chest pains and backaches and other issues related to stress problems.This book is organized into three parts. Part one covers the introduction, explains what is the faith factor and frontiers of scientific research. Part two explains an adventure in the Himalayas, the road to upper Dharmsala, the phenomenon of the “Fierce Woman,” the lessons of the Lamas. Part three finally gets to “a practical guide to greater physical and mental well-being.” How to work with your Doctor toward optimal health, the fundamentals of the faith factor: how to combine the relaxation response and your personal beliefs, the way to power over your physical and mental problems and what are the outer limits?I found this book to be interesting and informative. The “relaxation response” works great when I combined it with my Reiki (Universal Healing) techniques. If you are seeking less stress in your life this is a book you will want to check out.Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Chair/Seated Tai Chi, Qigong and Yoga for seniors and the physically challenged).

Great book. Dr. Benson's attempt to quantify g'tummo is amazing. Great meditation book.

The printing in some pages was smeary.

Got this and the original Relaxation Response for my husband following a brain hemorrhage/stroke and they have become his bible during recovery in terms of helping to cope with the after effects of brain trauma. Of all of his medical treatment and therapy, these books were the most effective medicine.

Goes over the basics and more. Good for those who are new to meditation, and probably has some tips for veterans too.

I actually like this better than his first book. The author is well educated and trained, and he is happy to tell you that, over and over and over. But he includes a variety of information in here. Little of it is actually the practice of meditation, but it is great supporting information if you are interested. And he does give credibility to the topic, even though he is loooong winded. I am not sorry I bought it.

El libro ayuda a relajarse en épocas de crisis cómo angustiaSi están pasando por una época de estrés este es un gran libro

Nice book

Dr Benson’s book was informative, not overly-technical and very readable. I found it personally therapeutic in that it addressed some of health questions pertinent to me. I also found Dr Benson’s explanation of the value of the placebo effect in medicine to be enlightening and heartening.I particularly appreciated Dr Benson,s respectful and uncritical reporting of religious ideas and beliefs, even if, at times as a Christian, I felt uncomfortable with the implied suggestion that all beliefs were equally valid and useful as long as they were sincerely believed. That said, as a Christian it challenged my thinking around the importance of the practical application of my own theological belief to mental, emotional and physical health issues and the fact that this is of much greater significance in biblical literature than we sometimes give attention to in the Church.Dr Benson himself does not admit preference for a particular faith, but argues convincingly that faith plays an important part in wellness and indeed, when faith is coupled with his famed “Relaxation Response”, the impact on health in enhanced. His open-minded approach to matters of faith is a challenge to a reductionist and materialistic worldview and as such is welcome to those of us who believe that scientific rationalism can not solve all the worlds ills and ought to go hand in hand with the wisdom and insights of faith based world views.

Reading the book.

Bad printing. Smudged letters hard to read, plus very small font size.